American Taliban John Walker Lindh to be released from prison

John Walker Lindh came to be known as the "American Taliban" after he was captured in Afghanistan in late 2001 fighting alongside the Taliban.

The 38-year old is scheduled for release on Thursday from the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.

He has spent more than 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to providing support to the Taliban. The plea deal called for a 20-year sentence, but Lindh is getting out a few years early for good behavior.

Lindh is among dozens of prisoners set to be released over the next few years after being captured in Iraq and Afghanistan by US forces and convicted of terrorism-related crimes following the attacks on September 11, 2001.

His release brought objections from lawmakers who fear he has not forsaken the radical ideology that took him to Afghanistan, and so remains a security risk.
US-born Lindh converted from Catholicism to Islam as a teenager. At his 2002 sentencing, he said he traveled to Yemen to learn Arabic and then to Pakistan to study Islam.

He said he volunteered as a Taliban soldier to help fellow Muslims in their struggle or "jihad." He said he had no intention "to fight against America" and never understood jihad to mean anti-Americanism.